The Human Impact of Gaza’s Land Day Protests

On March 30, tens of thousands of Gazans came out to the border fence with Israel as part of Palestinian Land Day commemorations. In addition to large, peaceful gatherings, some protesters threw stones across the fence and set fire to tires, sending black smoke into the air.

Israeli security forces responded by firing live rounds, rubber bullets, and using tear gas. At least 17 people were killed and some 1,400 people were injured during the demonstration.

Among the protesters on March 30 was Mohammed Khalil, an avid soccer player. Standing away from the crowds on a windy spot of ground, Khalil filmed himself in a video. His video shows the moment gunfire hit him in the legs, knocking him to the ground. It shows the damage to his left knee as he lies on the ground.

Khalil told Storyful that the bullet struck both of his legs, causing damage to both knees.

“I couldn’t expect that I would be injured by an Israeli sniper,” Khalil said in an interview filmed for Storyful by a local journalist, who corroborated his report.

Khalil is one many witnesses who have filmed important footage from the frontlines of the Land Day protests, which have repeated every Friday for five weeks. In total, 51 people, including two journalists have been killed across the Palestinian territories since March 30. Another 5,000 have been injured, according to a local news outlet.

In this video, produced by Storyful, Khalil wonders if he will ever play football again. He requires further surgeries if he is to be able to walk, let alone play.